Showing posts with label spats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spats. Show all posts

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Mid Ohio Con / TeslaCon Prep 3

Progress --

1. Finished the Captain's spats for my captain. All of the buttons and the elastic were sewn on yesterday afternoon. Once I got home, I treated all the buttonholes with Fray Check, let it dry (aka hit it with my hair dryer) then slashed the buttonholes open. I made sure all the buttons and buttonholes would close before taking them over to the Captain's lodging.

2. Finished my beau's new Rebel Trooper shirt. Last night I lengthened the bib using left over bits of one of the shirts we cannibalized to make the bib in the first place. I just finished sewing on the last snap so that the bib will fasten to his liking.

3. Velcro is hand basted onto both sleeves. When I get home tonight, I will go over it on the machine. Basting will hold the velcro in place for the machine stitching better than pins. Planning to buy more velcro and might also pick up some matching thread for the patches on my lunch break. I'm going to look into double sided tape as well. I have some but its at home and the more sewing I can get done at work, the better!

A bientot!

Miss Leah J Wilde

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Mid Ohio Con / TeslaCon Prep Take 2

Progress on my to do list --

1. Spats for my captain - Buttonholes stitched using the fabulous 4 step buttonhole stitch on my beau's mother's machine. The functioning buttons are all sewn on, I first attempted to sew them on w her machine but it was too much of a hassle. Hand stitching was much easier. What I still need to do - cut open the buttonholes and put fray check on them, sew on the non functioning buttons and the elastic across the bottom.

2. New Rebel Trooper shirt for my beau - Sewed five snaps down the side and a hook and eye at the top. Beau has requested the bib be lengthened so that he can tuck it in and another snap be sewn on near the bottom.

3. A wrap to go with Queen Gorgo - I purchased and washed two yards of 36" wide white muslin for my wrap. Also washed my Gorgo dress as the hem was covered in stains from the party I attended at Marcon while wearing it.

4. Velcro on a tshirt for my beau - Started this last night. One side is hand basted on. I need to hand baste the other side on, then machine stitch both sides and then see about sewing the other side of the velcro onto the patches that will then velcro onto the shirt. Have I ever mentioned that I hate velcro with a fiery burning passion?

So my current to do list right now for the rest of this week is --
1. Spats for my captain - finish sewing on buttons, finish the buttonholes and sew on the elastic.
2. Finishing my Harley Quinn - bra. (I think this is going to wait for another time).
3. New Rebel Trooper shirt for my beau - bib lengthening and snap.
4. Velcro on a tshirt for my beau - finish and then work on the patches.

Other things on my to do list --
6. Hemming my beau's kilt.
7. Imperial Officer uniform for myself.
8. Next steampunk costume.
10. And of course, there are Christmas presents to be made. I'll probably actually tackle these before I start on the next costumes for myself.

A bientot!

Miss Leah J Wilde

Monday, November 1, 2010

Mid Ohio Con / TeslaCon Prep

Last week I worked on sketching and planning out both my next steampunk creation and my Imperial Officer / Juno Eclipse uniform. I've got patterns and pattern modifications planned out and sketches of what I want to do. Right now I'm trying to decide if I can make the jacket of my steampunk outfit out of spandex with the matching underskirt out of a different fabric but the same color. I'd like the stretch in the jacket (and I already have the fabric) but don't want a knit skirt. By the way, the two will be separated by a patterned bustle.

What I did this weekend -

1. Finished my Harley Quinn hat, classic version. It took some work cuz the jester pieces just weren't the right shape and size but I finally got them right, stuffed and hand sewn onto the hat. Then I hand stitched gathered lace pompoms onto the ends. My beau thinks I should add bells, we'll see. I would like to get the bra section sewn in - I originally cut out lining for the top of the suit, and had pinning bra cups into the lining, planning to hand stitch them in. I recently sewed the bra cups into place and now all I need to do is hand stitch the lining into the suit and I won't have to wear a bra under it (which always shows).

2. Worked on my beau's new RFT shirt, using a few tutorials found online. Cut the backs out of two shirts, made them into rectangles, stitched along the sides and the top, turned it right side out, stitched the bottom closed (then had to open the bottom and redo the sides because the bib was too wide), stitched one side of the bib to the shirt, then started sewing snaps on the other side. The plan is to sew about three more snaps down the side, maybe one or two at the top and put either a snap or a hook and eye where the top button used to be - this will hold the shirt close and hold the bib in place.

3. Worked on Captain LaGrange's spats. I used his old pair as a pattern and added seam allowances when I cut out the white canvas. I then used the canvas as the pattern to cut out the red and black brocade lining. I sewed all the seams of both sides (had to redo one of the canvas pieces because I put it in upside down), clipped the curves, ironed the seams flat, then stitched the lining to the outside along the top and bottom. Next I pinned in the seam allowances on the sides and top stitched all around in black thread. All that's left is removing the buttons from the old spats, sewing buttonholes on the new spats and sewing the buttons onto the new spats. Oh and sewing elastic across the bottoms.

So my to do list right now for this week is --
1. Spats for my captain - buttons, buttonholes and elastic.
2. Finishing my Harley Quinn - bra.
3. New Rebel Trooper shirt for my beau - snaps and hook and eye.
4. A wrap to go with Queen Gorgo - planning to just buy some muslin and tearing the sides so it matches the dress. No sewing required.
5. Velcro on a tshirt for my beau.

Other things on my to do list --
6. Hemming my beau's kilt.
7. Imperial Officer uniform for myself, definitely won't be done for Mid Ohio Con.
8. Next steampunk costume.
10. And of course, there are Christmas presents to be made. I'll probably actually tackle these before I start on the next costumes for myself.

A bientot!

Miss Leah J Wilde

Monday, October 25, 2010

What I did this weekend

I think that an itemized list style list of what I did this weekend will work best, so here we go, my dearest readers -

1. Finished my spats. All that's left is the elastic strap across the bottom, which should be done in two shakes of a lamb's tail so no worries.

2. Worked on my Harley Quinn hat. Originally used a pattern that was much too large for my head so I had fun taking it in again and again and again. Finally got it to fit and then I think it was too small, so I added a bit to the face opening edges by using a spandex strip to finish the edge. Also hand sewed two snaps on below the chin to close it. Now I need to stuff the head thingies and hand stitch them onto the hat and then figure out how to do the pom poms at the ends. I'm thinking gathered lace to match the lace trim already sewn onto the body suit. Then I'll have an (almost) complete Harley Quinn costume!

3. I did some ironing - the dress that I had planned to wear on an airship outing yesterday but the weather did not cooperate and the fabric I purchased to make my parents' Christmas gifts.

4. Washed and dried the petticoat that I had planned to wear yesterday and did not end up using. I also moved the hook and eye closure so that the petticoat will sit at my waist instead of my hips. I've been safety pinning it pretty much since I made it, figured it was high time to fix it.

5. Painted the wings for my Halloween costume. It took a total of three cans of paint (one regular spray and two fabric spray paint, I decided that the fabric paint worked better) plus a tube of glitter (sprinkled on while the paint was wet) and some glow in the dark paint for accents. Hopefully they look fine with my costume on Thursday, otherwise I may be running to the store for new wings.

6. Worked on my mini bloomers - put together and cut out the pattern pieces, cut the pattern out of the fabric (decided to use green satin), stitched them together then pinned and stitched the elastic casings at the waist and leg openings. The pattern calls for button holes and ribbon to be threaded through the legs but I think that elastic will work just as well and be a mite easier.

7. Worked on a couple projects for my beau, including redoing the hem of the kilt I made him. It wants to curl up. I folded it up again and machine basted it. He said it looks okay so I'm going to hand stitch it and then remove the basting. Hopefully it works for him afterwards. I'm personally worried about the length, but don't know how else to fix the issue. I'm guessing that there's no enough weight in the hem for some reason.

8. Took apart my captain's spats and figured out how much fabric was necessary to redo them. I purchased said fabric but have not worked on the spats yet.

Current project list --
1. Elastic on my spats.
2. Elastic in my bloomer casings.
3. New Shipwreck shirt for my beau.
4. Spats for my captain.
5. Finishing my Harley Quinn hat.
6. Hemming my beau's kilt.
7. New Rebel Trooper shirt for my beau.
8. Imperial Officer uniform for myself (will tackle this for Mid Ohio Con if I have the time).
9. Next steampunk costume which I've already been thinking about and sketching.
10. And of course, there are Christmas presents to be made.

No rest for the wicked.

A bientot,

Miss Leah J Wilde

Friday, October 22, 2010

Halloween Update! 4 - Spats!

I know, I know, I fail at the whole pictures thing. Miss Dashwood has promised a photo shoot so hopefully I'll have some pictures soon, of several of my costumes.

Last night I finished one spat completely and have the second partially done. I cut the pieces out of pleather, leaving extra at the top and bottom to turn under and finish the edge, then flatlined all the pieces with the muslin. Then I stitched the pieces of both spats together and inserted the zipper into one. I tried the spat on over the boot, and while it doesn't look absolutely fabulous, it looks acceptable. I topstitched along the seams, partially for decoration, partially so the spat will lay better, then turned and finished the top and bottom edges and added three sets of eyelets above the zipper (I purchased 12" instead of longer zippers in the interest of saving money). I plan to lace them with a little of the organdy ribbon.

So all I need to do is finish spat #2, add elastic to the bottom of both, paint my wings (I plan to do that this weekend at my beau's) and make the choker, which I don't see taking more than a minute or two, depending on how elaborate I decide to get. I work both jobs today and so will doubtfully have any time for sewing and crafting, but hopefully should be able to finish the spats and choker tomorrow evening after work and attending church services.

Then it'll be on to the next project! A new set of spats for my beloved captain and a hat for my Harley Quinn costume. Both of which need finished before the first weekend of November aka TeslaCon / Mid Ohio Con weekend.

A bientot!

Miss Leah J Wilde

EDIT - Oh and I have the mini bloomers to make! I downloaded and printed the pattern today. It can be found at http://www.colettepatterns.com/blog/colette-patterns-news/free-pattern-to-download-the-madeleine-mini-bloomers So all I have to do is put the pattern pieces together (the sucky part about downloading free patterns), cut out the pattern (trying to decide between white and green bloomers atm) and put them together. The pattern seems relatively easy so I don't anticipate it taking very long.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Halloween Update! 3

Hello my dear, beloved readers!

My costume (except the accessories) is finished! Last night I finished putting the eyelets in the corset (which will lace with white organdy ribbon) and took in the skirt. I also trimmed away the excess fabric from the sleeve adjustment on the blouse.

Now for the accessories!

1. I bought a blonde wig, shoulder length with bangs. I might style it but haven't decided yet, that will probably be determined on the day of Trauma. I'm tempted to add in green clip in extensions.

2. I bought white spray paint to paint my wings. They're currently green and purple but the green is too off, so we'll see how they look after a coat of white.

3. I haven't started the choker yet, but don't expect it to take long.

4. I did however work on my spats. I took the spats pattern I had and elongated it as the spats will be worn over knee high boots. Then I stitched the pieces of one spat together with a basting stitch and tried it over the boot - no go, the bottom fit fine, but the top was much too small. So I took out some of the stitching to determine where it needed to be widened. Then recut all the pieces adding about an inch to each of the front edges and about two inches to the back seam. Pinning took a little finangling and adjusting (and in one case, adding more fabric because the piece was too small to pin to its neighbor) but I got the pieces for one spat pinned and stitched. Then I tried it again. And it was pretty perfect, once you account for the fact that I'll lose some of the side seam when I put in the zippers. Since it fit perfectly now, I took the spat apart and used it as the pattern to cut out my muslin lining for the spats. All I have to do tonight is cut out the pleather and start sewing! Hopefully I can finish them tonight, or at least get a good start.

5. AND I found a free online pattern for mini bloomers. I'll either make them out of white cotton or left over Princess Leia fabric. Figured that works instead of buying white ruffle panties to wear underneath.

I'm almost there!

A bientot!

Miss Leah J Wilde

Monday, October 18, 2010

Halloween Update! 2 (still no pictures - sorry)

The underbust corset is almost done. Just need to do a little handsewing to finish it off. Now for the play by play of the corset - started out with all the pieces cut out of white pleather and muslin. Stitched all the seams of the pleather with 5/8 inch allowance and it was too big so I went to an inch allowance and it fit pretty perfectly, especially taking into account that I'd lose part of the front when I put the corset together. Next I repeated the sewing with the muslin, this time just using inch seam allowances. Then I stitched about 3/8 from the edge of the seam allowance to make channels for the boning. I laid the boning on top of the muslin and cut it about two inches shorter than each channel to allow for the top and bottom seams. Next I basted all the seam allowances down. I trimmed both the pleather and the muslin where necessary then started pinning them together, right sides facing. I left the opening inbetween the back side seams open along the bottom to allow for turning when I stitched the two together. Then I trimmed the corners and turned the corset so that right sides were out. It might need some topstitching but my current plans are to just hand stitch the sleeve openings and the opening in the back that I left for the turning. Then it needs the eyelets put in and it'll be done (unless I decide it needs topsitching).

I also worked on my skirt. I handstitched two pants hook and eye closures on the skirt front so it can close in the back. Then I pinned and hand stitched the skirt front and back together about halfway up each side. The plan is to have another hook and eye on each side at the top and then a couple snaps inbetween the hook and eye and the stitching. That way, its a little easier than my current bustle skirt that is stitched on one side and closes w hooks and eyes on the other. I got one hook and eye and one snap sewn on, one hook and eye and about three snaps left to go.

I also sewed a few patches onto my favorite pair of comfy jeans - two red hearts and a penguin (for my readers that are unaware, I have a thing for penguins so I could not resist a penguin patch).

So the costume is getting there, just a few last minute things and then the choker. I also need to pic up a blond wig and a pair of ruffled white panties to wear underneath. Or maybe some dark green boyshorts. But I do need to get something. I'm also contemplating making white pleather spats to go over a pair of my boots. I was thinking of wearing strappy silver sandals which would look good, but then I can't wear anything on my legs and I might get cold. Readers - Any thoughts on boots vs sandals with a steamy saloon girl esque outfit for a fetish Halloween party?

A bientot!

Miss Leah J Wilde